‘Furious 8′ Director Doesn’t Feel The ‘Pressure’ To Live Up To Expectations

Director F. Gary Gray doesn’t do the same film twice. After the critical and commercial success of his N.W.A. biopic, “Straight Outta Compton,” he signed on to direct the anticipated eighth installment of the “Fast & Furious” franchise.

But jumping into the “Fast” franchise is no easy task. Last year’s “Furious 7” was the box office hit that no one saw coming. With it’s high-octane stakes, and a heartfelt goodbye to franchise star Paul Walker, “Furious 7″ transcended into something more than popcorn entertainment: it became a pop culture phenomenon. Now, Gray has been tasked with revving up the momentum in “Furious 8″ — and he’s bringing his signature style to the franchise.